It’s that time when most articles are either about the best of the year that is ending or predictions/resolutions for the year that is about to start. Given I’m not a big fan of New Year’s predictions or resolutions, I thought I would create a “Best of 2014.”
As I was doing some research, I stumbled upon Time Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of 2014. I like their list – and it saved me quite a bit of work – so I’m recreating it here:
- The Real-Life Hoverboard
- The Supersmart Spacecraft
- A Reactor that Could Realize Nuclear Fusion
- Wireless Electricity
- 3-D-Printed Everything
- Watches that Redefine Smart
- The Smartphone that Puts Privacy First
- The Cooler that Powers Your Party
- The Chip that Stops Your Slouching
- The Car that Makes Electric Enticing
- The Tablet that Replaces Laptops
- The Ring that Alerts You in Style
- The Pillbox that Gets Personal
- Bananas that Prevent Blindness
- The Wheel that Gives Bikers a Boost
- The Seamless Sign-Language Translator
- The Filter that Fights Ebola
- The Selfie Stick (and Hairbrush)
- The AC that Lowers Your Energy Bills
- The Prison Room that Helps Inmates Relax
- The Tablet Toy that Gets Physical
- The Coaching Basketball
- Wrappers You Can Eat
- Screens that Showcase Digital Art
- Action Figures that Empower Girls
Each of these inventions are a breakthrough in their own right but will have a different impact on the world and on me personally. The kid in me is partial to the Hendo Hoverboard (Back to the Future is real!) but at $10,000 I don’t think I will pre-order one. I am probably most intrigued by the WiTricity (wireless electricity) technology which can already power devices from as far away as 8 feet (2.4 meters). Constant connectivity and non-stop power would certainly change the way we all work.
Which invention do you think is the best of 2014?
